The Oak Ridge Board of Education will start looking again for school superintendent candidates after two finalists withdrew and a third failed to get a second interview.

School Board Chairman Keys Fillauer said Wednesday afternoon that Roger Collins, superintendent of Nelson County Public Schools in Livingston, Va., and Dan Lawson, superintendent of Tullahoma city schools pulled their names from the field of three candidates being considered. The School Board decided not to bring Neland Clark, superintendent of South Harrison Community School in Corydon, Ind., back to Oak Ridge for a second interview.

Fillauer said Collins and Lawson both decided to stay in their current positions.

"Clark just wasn't the type of fit we want for Oak Ridge," he explained.

Collins visited the city last week and Fillauer said the candidate enjoyed his time in Oak Ridge and liked the city and the school system but after talking to his wife, who is a teacher in the Livingston area, they decided not to make a change.

Lawson, who was also a candidate for superintendent positions for Jackson-Madison County Schools in West Tennessee and in Ozark, Mo., decided to stay in Tullahoma.

"He told us he was leaving Tullahoma because of his relationship with the school board," Fillauer said. "However, the board offered him a new contract.

"Both men are well respected in their communities," Fillauer said, adding he got one email from a Tullahoma official stating "he's hate to lose him (Lawson)."

The School Board chairman said the local board will now contact Ray & Associates, the Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based professional search firm that the board retained to conduct a nationwide search, and "develop a plan."

He said the selection process will not be the same as what the School Board has done since starting the search last April. He said the Board will look again at some candidates, but could also now find others who didn't apply, or the search firm could recommend others.

Former superintendent Bob Smallridge could come back on board as an interim superintendent of schools if the School Board approves his appointment at its Jan. 7 meeting. Smallridge has agreed to take on the job if the board approves.

Fillauer said the School Board would like to have someone in place by at least June.